2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[browntrout]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

That’s interesting. How are you involved in the business?

I don't need to be, I am a fan, it's the results that matter, not the intention

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by browntrout

Yeah...I listened to the interview, just turned my stomach, they peddle the biggest crap sometimes, they have just this visceral, "never turn to the dark side," hate for the word "rebuild" , it's so over the top, for the life of me, I just don't get it. I don't think there is another team in the NHL, with this much disdain for the word, show me one.

They are what they are because of how the run their business, and the results seem to back up that premise, yeah maybe a little unlucky, but they continually shoot themselves in the foot with short sighted moves.

What short sighted moves have they made since Conroy took over?

I mean you could say not trading Andersson last year or not trading Kadri and Coleman (or Andersson) yet this year, but to me that would be unfair without knowing what they've been offered.

Not sure we have any proof that they are trying to maximize value for all three.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by browntrout

You are right, I just don't think it's enough, we are in year four of apparently not "rebuilding " if you ask management/ownership, which is scarier to think, because if they were rebuilding they actually might be further ahead in their development, but now they are just a team not good enough to make the playoffs, who also won't trade vets, unless a "crazy" offer is made, like that's likely to happen.

I get why people say they seem directionless, because it really seems to present that way.

Ownership/management needs to have authentic conversations about the reality of where there team projects. I am sorry but you can not convince that this team is rebuilding when you hear comments "we are concerned about the culture of the room" give me a break these are professional athletes, it's part of the business.

If you lean into sound bytes I 100% agree.

I see actions and lack of actions in some cases as more concrete examples of what they think and where they are going.

[Macindoc]

So some posters think that after Kadri told the Flames that he didn’t want to be traded last season, the Flames should have asked him to waive his NTC anyway? Doesn’t the first statement imply what his response would likely be, while at the same time showing disrespect by trying to override a clearly stated preference? By stating that you don’t care about his preference, you set up an adversarial relationship between the organization and the player, who still has complete control over his fate and has the leverage to force the organization into making a trade from a position of weakness. What if his response was, “well, if you want to trade me, then I demand to be traded, but I will only waive to go to Toronto, so make your best deal with them.”

Being a less desirable market, the Flames need to go out of their way to cultivate a reputation as a player-friendly organization.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Fair points, but they don't outline the entire picture.

First of all the Flames did add Frost and Farabee. Pelletier(B prospect on a hot streak) + 2nd + Kuzmenko(flipped for a 3rd) went the other way. Sure they didn't do it at the deadline, and neither Frost nor Farabee were rentals, but they still actively tried to improve the team for futures, and I'm pretty sure that playoffs were a part of the end goal.

As for trading for rentals at the deadline. The risk/reward didn't allow the Flames. They were either tied for the last wildcard spot, or just a point back, in a 4 team race for 1 spot. Spending quality assets on a coin flip is how GMs lose their jobs.

The Flames also reportedly tried to add in the summer, but players need to want to come here as well. They were really hoping Rantanen would become a free agent. They were also actively looking for a LD, and Ryan Lindgren was a name that came up, but the thin market resulted in them settling for bringing back Hanley. Finally, the amount of bodies on this team was also a factor, and didn't give them any room to add more.

The team spent to the cap for 15 straight years. They always found a way to add players up and down the roster.

If they tried on Marner and were turned down ... fine. Good point if that's actually a fact.

But not spending money over the last two years is unique for the franchise and a complete change to how they run the business.

And I think moving a 2nd in a deal to get two guys in their mid 20s is a package with a futures traded for two futures.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Wolven

The likelihood that Conroy did NOT talk to Kadri multiple times last season is nearly zero. Even if they do not have a regular meeting between the GM and one of the star players on the team, you would assume that they have some kind of touchpoint throughout the season to ensure alignment between the team strategy and Kadri's preferences.

Even further than that, knowing what we know about Conroy I think it is safe to assume that he talks to everyone on the NHL roster and coaching staff throughout the year. The guy likes to talk and it is a valuable asset in his GM toolbox.

These guys get paid 6-8 figure salaries. I highly doubt they do so and then have zero meetings on their calendars with the manager that signs the contracts.

It boggles my mind that many fans seem to think that the GM doesn't talk to the players, or only talks to them once or twice a year. They are at the rink EVERY DAY. They are on planes and buses together, travelling together, with HOURS TO KILL, almost half the days of the season, and the GM often travels with them. And GMs are on the phone with agents all the time.

The idea that Conroy and Kadri didn't talk, REGULARLY, is absurd.

You have to understand that not everything gets reported. Personal conversations are left as that. When something needs to be reported, it is done so in a manner that protects the individuals, and is largely innocuous.

[browntrout]

Originally Posted by Bingo

What short sighted moves have they made since Conroy took over?

I mean you could say not trading Andersson last year or not trading Kadri and Coleman (or Andersson) yet this year, but to me that would be unfair without knowing what they've been offered.

Not sure we have any proof that they are trying to maximize value for all three.

You mean to tell, they could not at least get a 1st round pick for Andersson with how the market is, holding onto Andersson for an extra 2nd round pick is not worth barely missing the playoffs and now losing a top 3 pick.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Bingo

What short sighted moves have they made since Conroy took over?

I mean you could say not trading Andersson last year or not trading Kadri and Coleman (or Andersson) yet this year, but to me that would be unfair without knowing what they've been offered.

Not sure we have any proof that they are trying to maximize value for all three.

Okhotiuk was one.

Signing Sharangovich to his contract after just 1 season seems a bit short sighted now.

Clogging the top 9 with bodies which resulted in Zary/Coronato/Sharangovich being demoted to the 4th line and struggling to find their game.

Waiving Kuznetsov to keep Miromanov.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Kevin Allen with an article on hockeybuzz about teams with interest in Andersson. I like Kevin Allen and view him as credible dating back to his days as the NHL writer at USA Today

Says we will probably get our asking price as a team would see Andersson as a finishing piece on a championship defence

Stars/Leafs/wings/kings/panthers said to be teams interested.

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/2026/01/0...-connor-bedard

I like the part about Mantha and his bonus of $250,000 for every 10 games played. It was really too bad that his injury derailed him so hard last year and removed him as a trade chip for the Flames. But I am glad to see that he has hit 40 games this year and is on pace for a career season. Good for him.

Regarding the Flames news... I hope the list of teams in on Andersson is better than that. Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings.... it isn't a great list. The Red Wings are the only team that could be exciting to trade with but chances are they are one of the locations Andersson is least likely to go to for personal reasons.

We really need those teams to set the price and then have the Ducks or Sharks beat it.

[jmac98]

I'm still stuck at Toronto thinking they just need a finishing piece.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Okhotiuk was one.

Signing Sharangovich to his contract after just 1 season seems a bit short sighted now.

Clogging the top 9 with bodies which resulted in Zary/Coronato/Sharangovich being demoted to the 4th line and struggling to find their game.

Waiving Kuznetsov to keep Miromanov.

None of those moves are short-sighted, they simply weren't good moves (in hindsight), or didn't work out.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by browntrout

You mean to tell, they could not at least get a 1st round pick for Andersson with how the market is, holding onto Andersson for an extra 2nd round pick is not worth barely missing the playoffs and now losing a top 3 pick.

You are framing this like that top 3 pick is guaranteed if they move him
That’s not the case. It changes the probabilities but doesn’t guarantee anything

[PaperBagger'14]

When anyone (of any opinion) tries to prevent speculation in the trade and speculation thread it comes across as quite silly.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The team spent to the cap for 15 straight years. They always found a way to add players up and down the roster.

If they tried on Marner and were turned down ... fine. Good point if that's actually a fact.

But not spending money over the last two years is unique for the franchise and a complete change to how they run the business.

And I think moving a 2nd in a deal to get two guys in their mid 20s is a package with a futures traded for two futures.

The cap also didn't rapidly increase in consecutive years in a 32 team league before. The demand for UFAs far exceeds the supply right now.

It was a good move, I'm not arguing that. It just seemed like they did add in an attempt to give the team a boost that season and in the next couple.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

It boggles my mind that many fans seem to think that the GM doesn't talk to the players, or only talks to them once or twice a year. They are at the rink EVERY DAY. They are on planes and buses together, travelling together, with HOURS TO KILL, almost half the days of the season, and the GM often travels with them. And GMs are on the phone with agents all the time.

The idea that Conroy and Kadri didn't talk, REGULARLY, is absurd.

You have to understand that not everything gets reported. Personal conversations are left as that. When something needs to be reported, it is done so in a manner that protects the individuals, and is largely innocuous.

Exactly. If you have your 1:1 meeting with your manager, the expectation is that it will "stay in the room" and not become shared with the rest of the internal organization.

The idea that the details of a 1:1 meeting should be shared with the public??????

That is a lot of mental gymnastics to put together an opinion that requires GMs to never talk to their players and that if they do talk the details of the conversation should be public.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

When anyone (of any opinion) tries to prevent speculation in the trade and speculation thread it comes across as quite silly.

Sure, but how is anyone preventing speculation from other posters? Pretty sure everyone can post whatever they want. And then others can rebut, as they see fit.

If you post garbage, you're going to generate a lot of rebuttals - no one should be surprised by that.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by browntrout

You mean to tell, they could not at least get a 1st round pick for Andersson with how the market is, holding onto Andersson for an extra 2nd round pick is not worth barely missing the playoffs and now losing a top 3 pick.

If you know that's the case as a fact then I agree!

Don't think you do though.

We've heard Conroy's price is two first rounders or equivalent from both Steinberg and Seravelli. If they are right I'd GUESS that they are getting less than that now or he'd be gone.

[browntrout]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

You are framing this like that top 3 pick is guaranteed if they move him
That’s not the case. It changes the probabilities but doesn’t guarantee anything

Just because it does not guarantee anything does not mean it's a sound and rational move, it's about giving yourself the best opportunity to draft higher, as mentioned before consistent with short sighted moves

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

The cap also didn't rapidly increase in consecutive years in a 32 team league before. The demand for UFAs far exceeds the supply right now.

It was a good move, I'm not arguing that. It just seemed like they did add in an attempt to give the team a boost that season and in the next couple.

Mantha and Barrie were adds. But they had a clear purpose that was neither contrary to the rebuild, nor short-sighted. Neither worked out as planned unfortunately, but that's how it goes.

[CochraneKurt]

How good was that loss for #teamtank last night?